Day 4 on the Trail

Low Gap Shelter - Mile 43.2 - Jan 16_th, 2017

Journal

It's day 4 and I've been slowly ramping up my miles. I've met some amazing people on this trail such as 3 CPAs who work together and section hike parts of the trail 3-4 times a year. Gamel who has done the trail twice and had a chance meeting her again sometime after we first me and she offered to help us out if needed! We've also been running into a father and son from Texas who are also thru-hiking and they've been great company. I'm happy I started off on 8 mile days because it really acclimated me to the trail. The past two days, I've done 13 milers and while they've been tough I've been less sore and more energized throughout. Hiking the AT is like a rollercoaster, geographically, physically, and emotionally. Geographically, the trail usually runs in between mountains and in the middle are roads or "gaps" as they've been called. It's usually uphill and downhill with some gradual in between. Physically, my body is energized and pumped in the beginning, every uphill my legs hate me, I have to constantly watch where I stepped as I've had multiple close ankle rolls, and by the end my feet are just begging me to get to my next destination already. Lastly emotionally, is much similar to physically. When it's gradual I'm happy as can be strolling (more like Olympic speed walking) and I know why I love doing this, during inclines I ask myself why am I doing this and torturing myself, and going downhill I'm just focused and praying I don't step wrong. Rinse and recycle. Some highlights have been eating dinner on top of a mountain with a view of Atlanta ,chatting with people, and making it to Neel Gap (an AT marker) and downing 2 hot pockets, a breakfast burrito, and some orange juice. Bunking down down at Low Gap Shelter for the night with some rain for the first time. Our luck might be catching up to us. Next main stop is Hiawassee for some much needed laundry, shower, bed, resupply, and most importantly some craft brew and AYCE dinner!